Saina Nehwal defeated PV Sindhu 21-18, 23-21 in 56 minutes in an exciting and enthralling contest to win the women’s singles gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG 2018 ) in badminton. PV Sindhu had to settle for a silver after a bronze at Glasgow 2014. Saina Nehwal’s victory in the summit clash at Carrara Sports Arena in Gold Coast on Sunday gave her a second women’s singles gold at the Commonwealth Games eight years after she won in New Delhi. Indian badminton players have had an all-conquering Commonwealth Games and the icing on the cake is that both the women’s singles gold and silver and coming to India. Get highlights of Saina Nehwal vs PV Sindhu 2018 Commonwealth Games badminton women’s singles final here. (Live streaming | Medals tally | Indians in action on Sunday)
07:00 hrs IST: Hope you enjoyed the coverage. Join us here for the men’s singles final between Kidambi Srikanth and Lee Chong Wei
06:54 hrs IST: It was a great match. Saina is bringing home the gold while Sindhu gets the silver. Main thing is both the medals are coming to India
06:50 hrs IST: Saina beat Sindhu 21-18, 23-21
06:48 hrs IST:It is out from Sindhu and Saina wins it on her second match point! She has won the Commonwealth Games women’s singles gold eight years apart!
06:45 hrs IST: Net point and Sindhu saves the matchpoint. Another brilliant rally and it is another matchpoint for Saina at 22-21
06:44 hrs IST: Matchpoint for Saina! She leads 21-20! What a comeback from the 2010 CWG champion
06:43 hrs IST: Error from Sindhu and it is 20-all!
06:42 hrs IST: Saina has closed it at 19-19 but PV Sindhu now at game point (20-19)
06:39 hrs IST: Take your hats off girls! WHAT A RALLY! Saina eventually wins the point but what a rally! Sindhu still leads 19-18 in the second game
06:35 hrs IST: Looks like this match could head into the third game in which case, Saina will have to push her stamina against Sindhu, who is a champion at playing long contests
06:33 hrs IST: Saina has closed down the game to 14-15. She, for obvious reasons, does not want to push the match into the third game
06:28 hrs IST: Saina is bringing out all her experience with those powerful smashes backed by lovely drops, beyond the reach of Sindhu
06:25 hrs IST: With a 14-10 lead, Sindhu is eager to push this match into the deciding game
06:22 hrs IST: But Saina is not letting it go! A bombastic smash from the former World No.1
06:19 hrs IST: Sindhu is leading 7-5 in the second game and makes it 8-5
06:15 hrs IST: No coaches or support staff for the two Indian shuttlers as it is the same for both. Obviously chief national coach P Gopichand has made the decision as both medals are coming to India and neither will receive preferential treatment
06:13 hrs IST: Those last few points must have given Sindhu more confidence going into the second game
06:12 hrs IST: But Saina closes it finally, 21-18 in 22 minutes in her favour
06:11 hrs IST: Saina is giving away points here!
06:09 hrs IST: While Saina means all business here, Sindhu is no pushover, she is trying to fight back
06:06 hrs IST: Sindhu is trying to fight back but is now trailing 9-13 as a smash goes wide
06:05 hrs IST: Sindhu, on the other hand, won bronze at Glasgow 2014
06:03 hrs IST: Just to remind you Saina Nehwal was the gold medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. But she withdrew from the 2014 edition in Glasgow
06:01 hrs IST: Saina goes into the first game break with an 11-6 lead against Sindhu. She should be able to win this game
05:59 hrs IST: Top quality badminton there and Saina has raced away to a 9-4 lead!
05:58 hrs IST: It is 2-2 as of now. A couple of down the line smashes from Sindhu’s end
05:56 hrs IST: How much do the two want to beat each other? This is a big match, the final of the Commonwealth Games. Grudge match? We will find out.
05:55 hrs IST: Just to remind you, this is a gold medal match, the winner takes gold while loser will get the silver
05:54 hrs IST: The two Indians are on court and are warming-up
05:53 hrs IST: In official Badminton World Federation (BWF) matches, Saina holds a 2-1 career record against Sindhu
05:50 hrs IST: While Sindhu is ranked No.3 in the world, Saina is No.12
05:45 hrs IST: You can also follow live updates of other Indians in action at the Commonwealth Games here
05:40 hrs IST: While Saina has been playing since last week in Gold Coast, playing in the mixed team event, Sindhu gave her foot some rest following an ankle sprain
05:35 hrs IST: This is a big match considering the rivalry of the two athletes but the biggest plus is that both gold and silver are confirmed for India
05:30 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the women’s singles final between Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast
Both the players have been in good form through the tournament. Sindhu, who had missed the mixed team competition due to an ankle sprain, knocked out defending champion Michelle Li 21-18, 21-8 in just 26 minutes to enter the final. Meanwhile Saina, a former World No. 1, had to dig deep to struggle past 2014 silver medallist Kristy Gilmour 21-14, 18-21, 21-17 in 68 minutes.
Their contrasting journey into the final hardly indicate which way the match will tilt. What’s guaranteed is some high quality badminton action with both players giving their best to win gold.
Saina, the 2010 CWG champion, and Sindhu, the 2014 bronze medallist, clashed at the Senior National championship final last November with the former having the last laugh after a gruelling match. Saina and Sindhu faced each other twice in the Premier Badminton League (PBL). While Saina, playing for Hyderabad Hotshots then, defeated Sindhu (Awadhe Warriors) in the 2013 competition, Sindhu beat Saina in the PBL 2 semi-final in January, 2017.
